Jed Brophy

Jed Brophy (born 29 October 1963) is a veteran New Zealand actor whose career spans over three decades across stage, film and television. Born in the small town of Taihape and raised in the neighboring settlement of Mataroa, Brophy attended Mataroa Primary School before moving to Palmerston North Boys' High School, where his early interest in performance began to surface. His passion for acting was formalized at Toi Whakaari, New Zealand’s national drama school, from which he graduated in 1987 with a Diploma in Acting, equipping him with a solid foundation in classical and contemporary techniques. Throughout the 1980s Brophy became a staple of Wellington’s vibrant theatre scene, earning a reputation for his intense physicality and comedic timing, most notably in Gary Henderson’s acclaimed play “Skin Tight,” a production he performed hundreds of times on national and international tours, including a celebrated run at the 1998 Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it received the Scotsman Fringe First Award. Brophy’s transition to screen came with his debut in the 1988 National Film Unit short “Small War on the Edge of Town,” after which he forged a long‑standing collaboration with director Peter Jackson and the Weta workshop team. He appeared in several of Jackson’s hallmark films, such as the grotesque horror “Braindead,” the dramatic “Heavenly Creatures,” and the epic “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, where his versatile supporting roles added depth to the expansive mythology. More recently he portrayed the dwarf Nori in “The Hobbit” trilogy, bringing both gravitas and humor to the character. His on‑screen work has been complemented by a series of accolades, including a Best Actor win for “Group Therapy” at the 2000 Drifting Clouds Short Film Festival and a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for his performance in Paul Rothwell’s “The Blackening” in 2009. Continually active from 1988 to the present, Brophy remains a respected figure in New Zealand’s performing arts community, known for his dedication, collaborative spirit, and the unique blend of intensity and warmth he brings to every role.